Thoughts from Laache

Thoughts from Laache from his Ash Wednesday devotion (#120) from "Book of Family Prayer."

...Then God gave us His Son as Savior. He became the Shepherd of the miserable flock and took the punishment of our misdeeds on Himself. All the host of hell and all the arrows of death came upon Him. He was called to account for all the sin of the world. He, He was served notice and He paid the debt, and we, we are free. How the Lamb of God then was shorn! See Him under the scourge! See Him on the way to Golgotha! See Him on the cross! But He goes to death with perfect patience. He did not stray. He was wounded for our transgressions. As His life is free of guilt, His suffering is quiet and holy. He lives and suffers perfectly obedient to the death of the cross.

   Then He became the spiritual Father of a renewed human race. The Branch of Jesse's rod is cut down and replanted, and we are grafted into Him. Christ dies and lives again. We are baptized into death with Him and live with Him. So His Israel is a countless number. Misdeeds are atoned for, sins are put away, and eternal righteousness has come. Whoever believes is a member of Christ's Body and lives a new, holy life in Him. 

   Give us Your Holy Spirit's grace, that we may heartily believe in You, Lord Jesus, receive Your holy life in our heart, and no longer come under the devil's power. When we go astray, lead us right back and keep us with you forever. Amen.

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria